Seanad Eireann to force an election?

[Chrisco]

I was contemplating our constitution just now, and it struck me that what is probably the weakest link in the government - their control of the Seanad - could be used to get the bums out.

If a majority of senators and at least one-third of the members of the Dáil present a petition to the President stating that a bill is of great "national importance" the President can decline to sign the bill until it has been 'referred to the people'. This means that he or she can refuse to sign it until it has been approved either in an ordinary referendum or by the Dáil after it has reassembled after a general election.

Fine Gael could dangle the prospect of re-appointment in front of a few senators, the Greens, Cannon and O'Malley, and the independents, to declare the Pension Levy Bill to be of national importance, and refer it to the President who would have to either call a referendum or an election.

It would certainly turn the heat up and raise the stakes...

[Herodotus]

This is great if true. I thought the only way to force an election was with the government losing a vote of no confidence.

[yehbut_nobut]

weak link in that proposal is "a majority of senators". Who has the majority...?

[yehbut_nobut]

article 27

BUNREACHT NA hÉIREANN

[Chrisco]

The Bill couldn't be passed without a referendum which would leave the government up the left. I couldn't see them having any option but to call an election if this came to pass.

[BodyofEvidence]

no way will FF senators of all people want an election. They are unelectable in 2007 so imagine what they are like now...

[Herodotus]

It says a majority of Senators. Does that mean that 31 senators plus 1/3 of TD's can bring this into effect?

[Chrisco]

You don't need the FF senators, just the Universities, FG, Labour, SF, the Greens, Cannon and O'Malley; I think the latter two might be persuadable from Labour and FG, which leaves de Burca and Boyle... put them in and you have 31.

[imokyrok]

You don't need the FF senators, just the Universities, FG, Labour, SF, the Greens, Cannon and O'Malley; I think the latter two might be persuadable from Labour and FG, which leaves de Burca and Boyle... put them in and you have 31.

So either way we are dependent on the Greens to do the right thing.

[W..R.H]

The Greens though...